For Immediate Release

February 7, 2013

“DOT is focused on the safety of the traveling public. From day one, we have said that the comprehensive review of the Boeing 787 and the root cause analysis of the two battery incidents would be a data-driven process. Based on what information our experts find, the FAA will take any action necessary to further ensure safety. We must finish this work before reaching conclusions about what changes or improvements the FAA should make going forward. The leading experts in this field are working to understand what happened and how we can safely get these aircraft back into service.

Last month, we announced a comprehensive review of the 787’s critical systems including the aircraft’s design, manufacture and assembly. Since then, the FAA's team of technical experts has been working around the clock to understand what happened and how best to prevent these issues from recurring. As part of this effort, the FAA is looking at both the certification process and specifically at the required tests and design of the aircraft’s lithium ion battery. The FAA invited the NTSB to observe this FAA-led process.

The FAA is also lending our technical experts to support the NTSB's investigation into the probable cause of the battery incidents. The agency will also evaluate information from the investigations of these incidents and will take action as appropriate.

As the agency said last month, the FAA is focused on the review and activities to understand the root cause. Once the review is complete, the FAA will make any analysis and conclusions public.”